It's Groundhog Day

Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow at Gobbler's Knob, PA, this morning. Why that means we will have an early spring in Missouri, I know not. The groundhog in this photo would know better. He lives along a nearby trail we walk. Didn't see him today, but he would have seen his shadow, which means more winter for Springfield. (Doesn't it seem it should be the other way around?)

Dr. William “Billy” Wilson Elected as Fourth President of Oral Roberts University

TULSA, Okla. -- Board Chair Mart Green and the Oral Roberts University Board of Trustees announced today the election of Dr. William “Billy” Wilson as the fourth president of the Christian educational institution. Wilson, 54, will begin at the university July 1 of this year. "The presidential search committee, Board of Trustees and I are confident we have found the best candidate to lead ORU to a bright and successful future while remaining true to its founding vision and core values,” said Green. “Chancellor Oral Roberts founded this university on big-thinking and innovation. In this day and age where technology and culture are constantly shifting, Dr. Wilson’s global vision, experience and relationships will be a catalyst for growth and transformation.” Wilson is recognized as a global influencer with unwavering ethics and strong business acumen, who has a passion for building Spirit-empowered leaders to impact the world. He currently serves as Executive Director of the International Center for Spiritual Renewal in Cleveland, Tenn. He has forged national ecumenical coalitions with more than 250 denominations and parachurch ministries through the Awakening America Alliance. Wilson has also fostered unique global partnerships through Empowered 21—an initiative launched at ORU that brings together ministry leaders, scholars and next generation voices from the Spirit-empowered movement. Empowered 21 has expanded exponentially and today influences nations through 12 regional cabinets with significant ministry leaders. He served as the executive officer for the Azusa Street Centennial held in Los Angeles, Calif. in 2006, which drew more than 50,000 people from 112 nations. “I am honored and humbled to have been elected to lead ORU at this exciting time in its history,” said Wilson. “I am committed to increasing global access to our excellent, whole-person education that has prepared over 38,000 alumni to be world-changers in business, medicine, arts, ministry and beyond. “ORU is poised to globally engage students to hear God’s voice, excel in academics and go impact their world. We will continue to ‘make no little plans here,’” said Wilson. A native of Owensboro, Ky., Wilson holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Western Kentucky University in Secondary Education. He also holds a Master of Arts degree and a Doctor of Ministry degree from the Pentecostal Theological Seminary. For more information on Wilson, go to http://www.oru.edu/drbillywilson He was selected as the result of a nine-month search process led by the ORU Presidential Search Committee made up of representatives from the ORU Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, alumni and students. The Board utilized the expertise of CarterBaldwin Executive Search. More than 170 presidential prospects were nominated for consideration.

Iran’s “Hanging Judge” Sentences Iranian-American Pastor to 8 Years in Prison

[Press release] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JANUARY 28, 2013| By USCIRF WASHINGTON, D.C. -- "The trial and conviction of Pastor Abedini represent an outrageous miscarriage of justice and yet one more damning piece of evidence pointing to the rampant denial of religious freedom and the absence of any semblance of rule of law in Iran, " said Katrina Lantos Swett, Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. Iran’s “hanging judge” Judge Pir-Abassi on Sunday, January 27, sentenced Iranian-born American pastor Saeed Abedini to eight years in prison for “threatening the national security of Iran” because of his activity starting in 2000 in the Christian house church movement. Pastor Abedini has been in Iran since July to establish an orphanage. “The charges against Pastor Abedini were contrived, the process was irregular and deeply flawed, and the conviction flies in the face of both Iranian and international law,” said Lantos Swett. “Judge Pir-Abassi has been responsible for particularly severe violations of religious freedom. We call on the Iranian government to immediately release Pastor Abedini. In addition, we call on the U.S. and the international community to raise Pastor Abedini’s case in all international fora, including the U.N. Human Rights Council. We reiterate our call for the U.S. government to freeze the assets and deny entry into the U.S. of Judge Pir-Abassi, and other Iranian judges and government officials who have committed violations of religious freedom and related human rights, including the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, who would have had to approve the Pastor’s harsh sentence.” Pastor Abedini was convicted and sentenced four months after he was arrested in September. “Unfortunately, Pastor Abedini’s case exemplifies the Iranian government’s across the board assault on freedom of religion or belief,” said Lantos Swett. “Iran has intensified its persecution of Christians, including lawyers of these victims, such as Mohammed Ali Dadkhah, a prominent human rights defender who was sentenced to 10 years and who most recently defended Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani and some Baha'i prisoners. The Iranian government also has intensified its attacks against Baha'is, with an increased number of arrests and detentions, including young mothers and their small children." The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has recommended that Iran be designated a “country of particular concern” or CPC for its systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom. The State Department has designated Iran as a CPC since 1999.

Singer Amy Winehouse Is Dead

‎"If you can't sort something out for yourself, no one can help you," singer Amy Winehouse wrongly said ... and believed. And it cost her her life, perhaps her soul. Chronically troubled by drugs & alcohol, Winehouse was found dead today. She was 27.

Teen Challenge could have helped; Jesus would have helped!

Gov. Nixon Vetoes Bill at Peggy's Center

Nixon vetoed the bill that would have delayed life-saving protections for the elderly and those with disabilities at residential care and assisted living facilities in Missouri.

Fire that killed 11 at Anderson Guest House five years ago led to law requiring sprinkler systems by end of 2012; SB 118 would have pushed that deadline back two years; Governor says requirement is too important to delay.

Governor's news release below. I was among a group of press to receive advance copies of the release. The veto was signed at South Side Senior Center, where my wife, Peggy, is administrator. She hosted the governor, his entourage, legislators, and fire officials. Photos by Ken Horn.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Gov. Jay Nixon today vetoed a bill that would have delayed by two years a requirement for residential care and assisted living facilities in Missouri to install sprinkler systems. The Governor said that the protection of the elderly and individuals with disabilities who reside in those facilities was too important to push back, particularly since the original law requiring the sprinkler systems by the end of 2012 has been in place for four years already.

In November 2006, a fire killed 10 residents and a staff member at the Anderson Guest House, a group home for individuals with mental disabilities in Anderson. The home had no sprinkler system. The deadly fire led to the passage of a bill in 2007 requiring long-term care facilities to install such systems by Dec. 31, 2012. In 2011, the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 118, which would have delayed that requirement until Dec. 31, 2014.

The Governor vetoed SB 118 at the Southside Senior Center in Springfield, where he was joined by State Fire Marshal Randy Cole and the chiefs of several southwest Missouri fire departments.

"The loss of life from the Anderson Guest House fire led to important changes to protect the most vulnerable in our society," Gov. Nixon said. "The law provided these facilities with more than five years to install the basic measures that would save lives. Yet here we are, several years later, with only incremental progress made toward having sprinkler systems in every group home. Any further delay puts lives unnecessarily at risk, and that is unacceptable."

"Four years ago, the General Assembly acted quickly and correctly in a bi-partisan effort to ensure that the tragic events at the Anderson Guest House would not happen again at another long-term care facility," said state Sen. Jack Goodman, of Mount Vernon, who was instrumental in passing the original legislation in 2007. "Pushing back those important protections would endanger residents who already are vulnerable in emergency situations. Gov. Nixon made the right decision in vetoing this bill."

State Representative Sara Lampe, Missouri District 138

"Anderson Guest House was in my district, but this is an issue of statewide importance because there are group homes and other long-term care facilities throughout Missouri that have no sprinkler systems," said former state Rep. Kevin Wilson, sponsor of the original 2007 legislation. "Legislation passed in 2007 by an almost unanimous vote of the General Assembly protected the elderly and the disabled, and gave sufficient time for facilities to implement these measures. Gov. Nixon did the right thing in staying with our original deadline."

Under federal law, the vast majority of intermediate-care facilities and skilled nursing facilities will be required to have sprinkler systems by August 2013, and would have been unaffected by the extension provided by Senate Bill 118. Most skilled nursing facilities (475 out of 499) and intermediate-care facilities (27 out of 31) already have compliant systems.

Governor signs the veto. He gave one copy to Peggy.

Residential care facilities and assisted living facilities, however, are not under that federal deadline. To date, 78 residential care facilities (out of 426 total) and 18 assisted living facilities (out of 180 total) in Missouri would not have the type of sprinkler systems required by the Anderson Guest House legislation passed in 2007.

Peggy (center) introduces her assistant administrator, Mary Lee, to Governor Nixon.




Kate Stacy, KSFX TV, interviews the governor.

Joplin Tornado 2011 Part 1

Survey of the destruction left behind by the F5 tornado that leveled a broad swath of Joplin, Missouri, on May 22, 2011. Death toll stood at 151 on June 8.



Photography by Ken Horn

Joplin, MO, Post-Tornado

I traveled to Joplin, Missouri, yesterday with Frank Vice of AGWM. He brought his pick-up and did some work for Convoy of Hope's efforts there.


St. John's Hospital, Joplin, Post-Tornado


This fire broke out among the ruins nearly two weeks after the tornado hit.


Fire engines and other emergency vehicles were quickly on the scene.

David Wilkerson, Faithful Servant of God

Tap image for larger version.

Forest in Israel Ablaze

Arrests over deadly forest fire that has taken the lives of at least 42 people

By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries, reporting from Israel

CARMEL FOREST, ISRAEL (ANS) -- Two people have been arrested over a forest fire which has claimed at least 42 lives in Israel.

They are being questioned about a campfire authorities believe may have sparked the worst tragedy of its kind in Israel's history.

“We're talking negligence at the moment,” said Police spokesman, Micky Rosenfeld.

Officials said the blaze was likely to have been started by a picnic fire. The blaze, which broke out Thursday (December 2, 2010), tore through the Carmel Forest above the northern city of Haifa. Thirty-seven of those killed were prison officers, whose bus was caught in the flames as they tried to reach a nearby jail to help evacuate it.

Foreign firefighter aircraft, including UK helicopters, have joined in the battle to contain the fire which was still burning out of control yesterday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called the fire an “unprecedented disaster” as an estimated 13,000 acres have burned so far.

More than 15,000 people have been evacuated and 42 people have been reported killed so far including 40 prison security personnel who were killed when the bus they were traveling on veered off the road and exploded into flames.

A spokesperson for For Zion’s Sake Ministries, says, “Israel is suffering the worst drought since it's rebirth in 1948 which has of course added to the dryness of the forests.

"Also adding to the menacing fires are the strong Shirav winds that have been fanning the blaze and enabling it to spread almost reaching Haifa University.”

Meanwhile, in a rare appeal for international aid, Prime Minister Netanyahu has urgently requested assistance from Russia, Greece, Italy and Cyprus for firefighting forces as the flames enveloping Northern Israel blaze out of control.

“For Zion's Sake Ministries” says that it is commited to assisting in this emergency by participating in the evacuation of those in immediate danger and by providing food, shelter and spiritual support to those in immediate need.

"We also will be involved in the rebuilding of the affected areas and financially blessing those families who have lost their homes to fire," added the spokesperson.

If you wish to help, please go to: http://forzion.com/bless-israel/support-fzs/

Note: Dan Wooding is in Israel at this time as part of an Evangelical Press Association media tour organized by the Israel Ministry of Tourism.

Dan Wooding, ASSIST News Service

10 New Martyrs - Killed for Doing Good

Ten members of a Christian medical team were killed by the Taliban after bringing medical care to isolated Afghan villagers.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — They hiked for more than 10 hours over rugged mountains — unarmed and without security — to bring medical care to isolated Afghan villagers until their humanitarian mission took a tragic turn.

Ten members of the Christian medical team — six Americans, two Afghans, one German and a Briton — were gunned down in a gruesome slaughter that the Taliban said they carried out, alleging the volunteers were spying and trying to convert Muslims to Christianity. The gunmen spared an Afghan driver, who recited verses from the Islamic holy book Quran as he begged for his life.

It is hard to comprehend the kind of religion or mindset that would do this to people sacrificing to help others. God, protect other workers there (I know some of them), and comfort the families of those martyred for You. Turn these lost ones from this wickedness.

Full story here.

Another Partial, Liberal, Likely-to-legislate-from-the-bench Supreme Court Justice Confirmed

In a blow to those who care about the lives of unborn children, Elena Kagan was confirmed today as a Supreme Court Justice in a 63-37 vote.

Charmaine Yoest, president and CEO of Americans United for Life Action, said Kagan "will emerge as one of the Supreme Court's most agenda-driven, reliably pro-abortion justices."

"It is deeply troubling that the Senate voted to confirm Ms. Kagan without fully investigating her role in manipulating medical evidence during the partial-birth abortion debate in 1996-97," she said. "The American people want fair and impartial judges, and Justice Kagan's negative impact will be felt for decades to come."

One more reason for Christians to unite in prayer and action.

Another Immigration Insult

The widow of a Houston police officer killed by an illegal immigrant was "shocked" to learn that the city's former police chief has landed a top immigration job with the Obama administration, her lawyer told FoxNews.com on Friday.

That's because Joslyn Johnson, whose husband, Rodney Johnson, was killed in 2006, is suing former Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt for failing to enforce federal immigration laws. She claims her husband would be alive today if the city had bothered to check up on the gunman's immigration status.

Now that Hurtt is taking a job to oversee partnerships between federal and local officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Johnson -- and other critics -- say they're concerned the official who resisted immigration enforcement in Houston will now be in charge of promoting it. — FoxNews.com

More unbelievable callousness, irony and blatant incompetence from the Obama administration ... or should we say, "regime."

This administration does not respect the rule of law, plain and simple.

Obama's Remarks on Health isurance

I receive press releases from the Office of the Press Secretary in the White House. The full text of today's release is below. I am struck by how it begins:

AUDIENCE: Yes, we can! Yes, we can! Yes, we can!

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yes, he did. (Applause.)

Upon the narrow passage of a controversial bill, we find Obama still—still—campaigning. Only now it is our tax money that is funding the dissemination of his worn-out, demagogic slogan. His comments below contain a mean-spirited slap at the opposition party, by name. The protocol and decorum of the office of the president dictate that he not gloat when he has won a political victory. But this president is rewriting the book on Presidential Manners. He has already broken the record as the chief executive who has blamed his problems on his predecessor for the longest period of time—by a long shot.

Regardless of where you stand on this behemoth of a bill, can't we please—some day—have a president who has quit campaigning?

Remarks by the President and the Vice President on the Health Insurance Reform Bill at the Department of Interior


THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
___________________________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release March 23, 2010


REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AND THE VICE PRESIDENT
ON THE HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM BILL

Department of Interior
Washington, D.C.


12:39 P.M. EDT


THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. (Applause.)

AUDIENCE: Yes, we can! Yes, we can! Yes, we can!

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yes, he did. (Applause.) Thank you all for being here, ladies and gentlemen. Please be seated.

Ladies and gentlemen, to state the obvious, this is truly a historic day. But as all of you know, history is not merely what’s printed in our textbooks. It doesn’t begin or end with a stroke of a pen. History is made. History is made when men and women decide that there’s a greater risk in accepting the situation we cannot bear than in steeling our spines and embracing the promise of change. History is made when a leader’s passion is matched with his principle in service of his country.

Mr. President, your passion to make the lives of ordinary Americans better has been on display. And the principles that guided your public service, beginning when you were a community organizer, have led this nation to this moment. Mr. President, 30 minutes ago, by the stroke of your pen, you began the process of making life better for tens of millions of Americans today and for evermore. (Applause.)

For much too long, for much too long, Americans have been denied what every human being is entitled to -- decent, affordable health care. Starting with Teddy Roosevelt straight through to you, Mr. President, everyone else tried. They were great men, they gave it their best, but they came up short. But you succeeded, Mr. President, and we owe you for that. (Applause.)

As I said just before the President signed the health care bill, I quoted Virgil, the classic Greek poet, who once said, “The greatest wealth is health.” The greatest wealth is health. Mr. President, you’ve made us a nobler and wealthier nation by providing for the health of your fellow citizens.

Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama. (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, everybody. Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you, everybody. Please have a seat.

We wanted to do this twice -- (laughter) -- because there are so many people we have to thank. And as I look around the room, we've got leaders of labor who helped to make this happen. We've got ordinary folks who knocked on doors and made phone calls at the last minute to get this thing over the top. My extraordinary members of my Cabinet -- we've still got some additional members of Congress who helped lead the charge on this. There’s my staff, who I see are still here. (Laughter.) At any given moment I thought they were going to quit -- (laughter) -- but they just stuck it out with me.

So the main purpose here is to say thank you, and thank you on behalf of the American people.

After a century of striving, after a year of debate, after a historic vote, health care reform is no longer an unmet promise. It is the law of the land. It is the law of the land. (Applause.)

And although it may be my signature that’s affixed to the bottom of this bill, it was your work, your commitment, your unyielding hope that made this victory possible. When the special interests deployed an army of lobbyists, an onslaught of negative ads, to preserve the status quo, you didn’t give up. You hit the phones and you took to the streets. You mobilized and you organized. You turned up the pressure and you kept up the fight.

When the pundits were obsessing over who was up and who was down, you never lost sight of what was right and what was wrong. You knew this wasn’t about the fortunes of a party -- this was about the future of our country. (Applause.)

And when the opposition said this just wasn’t the right time, you didn’t want to wait another year, or another decade, or another generation for reform. You felt the fierce urgency of now.

You met the lies with truth. You met cynicism with conviction. Most of all, you met fear with a force that’s a lot more powerful -- and that is faith in America. You met it with hope. (Applause.)

Despite decades in which Washington failed to tackle our toughest challenges, despite the smallness of so much of what passes for politics these days, despite those who said that progress was impossible, you made people believe that people who love this country can still change it.

So this victory is not mine -- it is your victory. It’s a victory for the United States of America. (Applause.)

For two years on the campaign trail, and for the past year as we’ve worked to reform our system of health insurance, it’s been folks like you who have propelled this movement and kept us fixed on what was at stake in this fight. And rarely has a day gone by that I haven’t heard from somebody personally -- whether in a letter, or an email, or at a town hall -- who’s reminded me of why it was so important that we not give up; who reminded me why we could not quit.

I heard from Ryan Smith, who’s here today, and runs a small business with five employees. He is trying to do the right thing, paying for half of the cost of coverage for his workers. But as his premiums keep on going up and up and up, he’s worried he’s going to have to stop offering health care for his people. But because of this bill he is now going to be getting tax credits that allow him to do what he knows is the right thing to do -- and that's going to be true for millions of employers all across America. (Applause.)

I heard the story of 11-year-old Marcelas Owens, who’s right here -- looking sharp -- (applause.) He and I made sure to coordinate our ties today. (Laughter.) Yes, it looks good. (Laughter.)

Marcelas is a wonderful young man, and he lost his mom to illness. And she didn’t have insurance and couldn’t afford the care that she needed. So in her memory, Marcelas, 11 years old, has told her story across America so that no other children have to go through what his family has experienced. (Applause.) That's why we don't quit. (Applause.)

I heard from folks like Natoma Canfield, who had to give up her health coverage after her rates were jacked up by more than 40 percent. She was terrified that an illness would mean she’d lose the house that her parent built, but she also knew that if she was burdened by these huge premiums, that she wouldn’t be able to pay the mortgage. So she finally decided not to -- not to keep her health insurance. And she’s now lying in a hospital bed, as we speak, faced with just such an illness, and she’s praying that she can somehow afford to get well. And her sister Connie is here today. (Applause.) And it’s because of Natoma’s family that we could not quit. (Applause.)

I’ve met people like Ashley Baia, who worked for my campaign. Where’s Ashley? She’s around here somewhere. I know she is. There she is, right in front. She just doesn’t like waving. (Laughter.) Ashley decided to get involved with our campaign a couple of years ago because her own mother lost her job, and with it, her health insurance when she got sick. And they had to file bankruptcy. And so Ashley worked tirelessly, not to get me elected, but to solve a problem that millions of families across the country were facing.

Each of these Americans made their voices heard. It’s because of them, and so many others, so many of you, that real, meaningful change is coming to the United States of America. (Applause.) It is because of you that we did not quit. It’s because of you that Congress did not quit. It’s because of you that I did not quit. It’s because of you. (Applause.)

Now, let me tell you what change looks like -- because those fighting change are still out there, still making a lot of noise -- (laughter) -- about what this reform means. So I want the American people to understand it. And look it up for yourself. Go on our Web site, whitehouse.gov, or go to any credible news outlet’s Web site, and look in terms of what reform will mean for you. (Laughter.)

I said this once or twice, but it bears repeating: If you like your current insurance, you will keep your current insurance. No government takeover; nobody is changing what you’ve got if you’re happy with it. If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor. In fact, more people will keep their doctors because your coverage will be more secure and more stable than it was before I signed this legislation.

And now that this legislation is passed, you don’t have to take my word for it. You’ll be able to see it in your own lives. I heard one of the Republican leaders say this was going to be Armageddon. Well, two months from now, six months from now, you can check it out. We’ll look around –- (laughter) -- and we’ll see. (Applause.) You don’t have to take my word for it. (Applause.)

So what works in our system won’t change. And a lot of people are happy with the health care that they’ve got and that won’t change because of this legislation. Here’s what will change, and here’s what will change right away:

This year, we’ll start offering tax credits to about 4 million small businesses to help them cover the cost of coverage. And that means that folks like Ryan will immediately get a tax break so that he can better afford the coverage he’s already providing for his employees. And who knows, because of that tax break, he may decide to hire a couple more folks in his small business -- because of this legislation. (Applause.)

This year, tens of thousands of uninsured Americans with a preexisting condition and parents whose children have a preexisting condition will finally be able to purchase the coverage they need. And that means folks like Natoma Canfield will have access to affordable insurance. That happens this year. (Applause.)

This year, insurance companies will no longer be able to drop people’s coverage when they get sick, or place lifetime limits or restrictive annual limits on the amount of care they can receive. This year, all new insurance plans will be required to offer free preventive care. And this year, young adults will be able to stay on their parents’ policies until they’re 26 years old. That all happens this year. (Applause.)

This year, seniors who fall in the coverage gap known as the doughnut hole will get some help to help pay for prescription drugs. And I want seniors to know, despite what some have said, these reforms will not cut your guaranteed benefits. Let me repeat that: They will not cut your guaranteed benefits. Period. I’d be wary of anybody who claimed otherwise.

So these are the reforms that take effect right away. These reforms won’t give the government more control over your health care. They certainly won’t give the insurance companies more control over your health care. (Applause.) These reforms give you more control over your health care. And that’s only the beginning. (Applause.)

That’s only the beginning. After more than a decade, we finally renewed the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. (Applause.) And the other changes I’m signing into law will take several years to implement fully, but that’s because this is a difficult, complex issue and we want to get it right.

One of these reforms is the creation of a health insurance exchange. This is one of the most important reforms -- and by the way, originally, I should point out, a Republican idea. Imagine that. (Laughter.)

The idea is, is that right now there are a lot of people out there buying health insurance on their own, or small businesses buying health insurance on their own. They don’t work for a big company, they’re not part of a big pool, so they have no leverage; they’ve got no bargaining power with insurance companies. But now what we’re going to do is create exchanges all across the country where uninsured people -- small businesses -- they’re going to be able to purchase affordable, quality insurance. They will be part of a big pool, just like federal employees are part of a big pool. They’ll have the same choice of private health insurance that members of Congress get for themselves. That’s going to happen as a consequence of this legislation. (Applause.)

And when this exchange is up and running, not only because of better bargaining power will they see their premiums reduced, will people get a better deal, but millions of people who still can’t afford it are going to get tax breaks so they can afford coverage. And this represents the largest middle-class tax cut for health care in our history. (Applause.) And it’s going to mean that millions of people can get health care that don’t have it currently.

Now, for those of us who fought so hard for these reforms, and believe in them so deeply, I have to remind you our job is not finished. We’re going to have to see to it that these reforms are administered fairly and responsibly. And this includes rooting out waste and fraud and abuse in the system. That’s how we’ll extend the life of Medicare and bring down health care costs for families and businesses and governments. And in fact, it is through these reforms that we achieve the biggest reduction in our long-term deficits since the Balanced Budget Act of the 1990s.

So for all those folks out there who are talking about being fiscal hawks and didn’t do much when they were in power -- (applause) -- let’s just remind them that according to the Congressional Budget Office, this represents over a trillion dollars of deficit reduction that is being done in a smart way.

And for those who’ve been suspicious of reform -- and there are a lot of wonderful folks out there who, with all the noise, got concerned -- because of the misinformation that has marred this debate, I just repeat, don’t take my word for it. Go to our Web site, whitehouse.gov; go to the Web sites of major news outlets out there; find out how reform will affect you. And I’m confident that you will like what you see -- a common-sense approach that maintains the private insurance system but makes it work for everybody; makes it work not just for the insurance companies, but makes it work for you.

So that’s what health reform is all about. Now, as long a road as this has been, we all know our journey is far from over. There’s still the work to do to rebuild this economy. There’s still work to do to spur on hiring. There’s work to do to improve our schools and make sure every child has a decent education. There’s still work to do to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. There’s more work to do to provide greater economic security to a middle class that has been struggling for a decade.

So this victory does not erase the many serious challenges we face as a nation. Those challenges have been allowed to linger for years, even decades, and we’re not going to solve them all overnight.

But as we tackle all these other challenges that we face, as we continue on this journey, we can take our next steps with new confidence, with a new wind at our backs -- because we know it’s still possible to do big things in America -- (applause) -- because we know it’s still possible to rise above the skepticism, to rise above the cynicism, to rise above the fear; because we know it’s still possible to fulfill our duty to one another and to future generations. (Applause.)

So, yes, this has been a difficult two years. There will be difficult days ahead. But let us always remember the lesson of this day -- and the lesson of history -- that we, as a people, do not shrink from a challenge. We overcome it. (Applause.) We don’t shrink from our responsibilities. We embrace it. We don’t fear the future. We shape the future. That’s what we do. That’s who we are. That makes us the United States of America. (Applause.)

God bless you. And God bless the United States of America. Thank you. (Applause.)

END 1:01 P.M. EDT

Happy Birthday Yakov

Today is Yakov Smirnoff's birthday. He is shown here with Peggy.


Yakov called me at my office once. He told my assistant, "This is Yakov Smirnoff." She came really close to saying, "Yeah, right."

But she passed the call on, still not really believing it.

One of the best entertainers in Branson and a true patriot.

90 Lashes for Child Who Brings Cell Phone to School

The U.K.'s Daily Mail reported today that a 13-year-old girl in Saudi Arabia was sentenced to 90 lashes and two months in prison. Harsh enough if the crime was serious. Her crime was taking a cell phone to school.

The teenager's punishment was, according to Saudi newspaper Al-Watan, harsher than that given to some robbers and looters. She is to be flogged in front of her classmates.

She was reportedly hiding a cell phone in class, breaking strict Saudi regulations banning their use in girls' schools.

Saudi Arabia is the world's leading country in the use of torture-by-flogging, and religious police keep a close watch over public behavior.

This is the same oil-rich country that has donated nothing to Haiti, as most of the developed world steps up with donations.

7.0 Earthquake Rocks Haiti; Convoy of Hope is Responding

A 7.0 earthquake struck the country of Haiti, leveling buildings, cutting off communications and leaving the world wondering about the state of this poor country. Witnesses said buildings were destroyed and many people injured. The lack of communications is hindering the ability to determine the full extent of damage and destruction.

More on Convoy of Hope response here.

More Senseless Violence

AP:

Finnish Police Find Body of Alleged Mall Gunman After 5 Killed

Thursday , December 31, 2009

HELSINKI —

A man clad in black went on a shooting rampage Thursday, killing his ex-girlfriend then gunning down four workers at a suburban shopping mall near Helsinki before apparently turning his gun on himself, police said.

Finnish police said one woman and three men were shot dead Thursday morning at the Sello shopping mall in Espoo, six miles west of Helsinki.

Seems we have reports like this on a weekly basis recently. I have ministered in Finland a few times and we have friends in Espoo, where these shootings took place.

The frequency of these disturbing attacks makes me think about the Tribulation. When the restraining hand of the Holy Spirit is removed, incidents like these will probably be rampant. Time to get right with Jesus now.

West Point Is "the Enemy Camp" Says Chris Matthews

MSNBC’s Chris Matthews, host of "Hardball," called West Point "the enemy camp" and "a strange venue." I saw the actual clip last night after the president's Afghanistan speech.

Here’s the actual quote:

"It seems like in this case, there isn't a lot of excitement. I watched the cadets, they were young kids - men and women who were committed to serving their country professionally it must be said, as officers. And, I didn't see much excitement. But among the older people there, I saw, if not resentment, skepticism. I didn't see a lot of warmth in that crowd out there. The president chose to address tonight and I thought it was interesting. He went to maybe the enemy camp tonight to make his case. I mean, that's where Paul Wolfowitz used to write speeches for, back in the old Bush days. That's where he went to rabble rouse the 'we're going to democratize the world' campaign back in '02. So, I thought it was a strange venue."

Liberal commentators slip every once in a while and give us a glimpse into how they are thinking. And it isn't pretty.

Maybe they weren't "warm" to the president's speech ... but West Point is not "the enemy camp."

Amazing that anyone would say this about the stronghold of training for leadership for our nation's primary fighting force ... especially when the speaker is the very Commander-in-Chief of those forces.

Apology required Mr. Matthews.

Your Union in Action

In the era of entitlement, reason seldom rules.

Today, in a story titled, "Pennsylvania Union Leader Criticized for Threatening Legal Action Over Boy Scout's Volunteerism," the AP and FoxNews.com reported this astounding story:

A Pennsylvania union leader has come under fire after threatening legal action against the city of Allentown for allowing a Boy Scout to voluntarily clear a walking path in a local park.

Nick Balzano, president of the Service Employees International Union's Allentown chapter, said last week that the union might file a grievance against the city for allowing 17-year-old Kevin Anderson to clear the hiking trail, instead of paying some of the 39 recently laid-off SEIU members to do the work.

... the Morning Call quoted him as telling the city council that the union would be "looking into the Cub Scout or Boy Scout who did the trails … There's to be no volunteers."

Ah, that's the spirit. We don't want any of that nasty do-gooder mentality in this country.

To be fair, the story includes this:

SEIU spokesman Matt Nerzig called Balzano's comments "completely unauthorized and insensitive" and said the union was "not at all" considering a grievance in this case.

... "Not sure where he got the idea but he certainly doesn't have the authority to do so."

Anderson, a member of Boy Scouts Troop 301 of Center Valley, spent more than 200 hours creating the 1000-foot path in Kimmets Lock Park along with fellow scouts, friends and parents.

...

"The volunteers and I removed trash, many old tires and recyclables from this former illegal dump-site," Anderson told FoxNews.com.

Now that is offensive.

Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski countered the union official's threat:

"We would hope that the well-intentioned efforts of an Eagle Scout candidate would not be challenged by the union," he told the Morning Call.

In a letter written Tuesday to Balzano, U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania said the union official owes the teen an apology.

"I am astounded, that you would threaten to file a grievance against the City of Allentown because the administration wisely chooses to make volunteer opportunities available," Dent said. "Especially when this type of frivolous grievance could add to the tax burden of the citizens."

"An apology both to the scout involved and to the public would be appropriate," he added.

I look forward to reading it.

One More Fort Hood Victim

Received this message on Facebook tonight from my friend Gaylan Grant, who pastors in Killeen, Texas.

Ken in the Killeen/Fort Hood shooting, one of the victims who was killed was about three months pregnant. The baby was unaccounted for in the statistics and no one is talking about it. They are truly treating this unborn baby as a "nobody". I think it is truly indicative of this administration to continue to justify abortion by failure to acknowledge unborn babies as viable lives.